David Shumaker, PhD
Associate Professor, Mental Health Counseling Program
Department of Psychology
Phone: 617.570.4835
Fax: 617.367.2924
Email: dshumaker@suffolk.edu
Office: Donahue Building, Rm. 615
Education
- PhD, University of South Carolina
- BA, Harvard University
Internship: Carolinas Medical Center-Randolph/Behavioral Health System, Charlotte, North Carolina
Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry Children & The Law Program fellowship in pediatric forensic psychology; Licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider, MA.
Specialty Areas
Developmental psychopathology; existential-integrative therapy; child and adolescent anxiety disorders; high-conflict divorce; group-therapy training
My research interests recently have focused on existential anxiety in adolescence and how existential-integrative therapy can be effectively incorporated into empirically validated treatment approaches with this population. I am specifically interested in learning more about the adolescent and young adult experience of existential anxiety and which personality configurations from a Five Factor Model perspective correlate with existential anxiety. In addition, having previously worked as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in Massachusetts conducting custody evaluations, I have a strong research interest in both forensic assessment methodology and treatment considerations for working with children and adolescents whose parents are divorced or separated. Specific recent interests in this area include ethical approaches to obtaining informed consent for treatment of minors of parents engaged in high-conflict and how sibling attachment might be factored into custody evaluations.
Selected Publications
Shumaker, D. (In Press). Existential-Integrative Therapy with Depressed and Anxious Adolescents. Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
Shumaker, D., Ortiz, C. & Brenninkmeyer, L. (2011). Revisiting Experiential Group Training in Counselor Education: A Survey of Master’s-Level Programs. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 36(2), 111-128.
Shumaker, D., Miller, C, Ortiz, C, & Deutsch, R. (2011). The forgotten bonds: The assessment and contemplation of sibling attachment in divorce and parental separation. Family Court Review, 49(1), 46– 58.
Shumaker, D. (2009). Habit reversal treatment of a 7-year-old with a learning disability. Clinical Case Studies, 8(3), 163-173.
Shumaker, D., Deutsch, R., & Brenninkmeyer, L. (2009). How do I connect? Attachment issues in adolescence. Journal of Child Custody, 6, 91-112
Courses Taught
COUNS 713 -Counseling Theories
COUNS 735 - Group Psychotherapy
COUNS 737 - Interpersonal Skills Laboratory
COUNS 738 - Clinical Practicum I
COUNS 739 - Clinical Practicum II
